Evergreen Accolades
A sample of recent acclaim that distinguishes Evergreen as one of the best colleges in the United States.
Washington Monthly Emphasizes Service to Society
- Washington Monthly ranks four-year colleges based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research and promoting public service. Evergreen was ranked #1 in 2022 out of over 600 colleges and universities around the country.
- Evergreen also landed on the #15 spot on Washington Monthly's "Best Back for Buck College," list.
Washington Monthly ranks schools based on three criteria: contribution to the public good in social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarships and PhDs) and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country). Washington Monthly asks the question: What are colleges doing for the country?
U.S. News and World Report Finds Much to Like
U.S. News and World Report rankings:
- #22 Top Public Schools
- #26 Best Value Schools
Princeton Review Guides Highlight Evergreen for Academic Excellence and Green Practices
- Best 388 Colleges (2023)
In addition to academic excellence, such features as location, cost and campus culture are taken into account. According to the Princeton Guide's "Inside Word" on Evergreen, "Students... are commonly some of the strongest performers from their high schools...The school's unique and self-directed academic curriculum favors those students who can adequately handle the responsibility of creating and developing their own educational path."
The Evergreen State College is not just any college, it’s one of the Best Colleges in the Nation for 2023 according to The Princeton Review, the only ranking based entirely on student feedback.
Top Ranked by College Factual
- Best Value Bachelor's Degrees for Liberal Arts
- Top Ranked Veteran (Top 1%)
- Highest Paid Master's Degree Education Graduates
Not too shabby! College Factual reviews schools to match students with the most affordable, best educational fit college in the country.
Evergreen’s Liberal Arts Education
- Best Colleges America’s Most Liberal Colleges: #11
Best Colleges in Washington
University HQ has named Evergreen #18 in Best Bachelor's Degree in Washington
2023 Animation School Rankings
The Animation Career Review ranks nearly 200 schools with animation programs from across the US. Here's where Evergreen ranks:
- Top 5 in Washington (#3)
- Top 25 in the West (#22)
- Top 25 Nationally (#23) among schools offering animation-related undergrad degrees
Learn more at Animation Career Review's website.
A Good Place for Military and Veterans
The Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students. With a thriving Veterans Resource Center, a strong commitment to diversity of opinions and proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Evergreen has become known as a welcoming place for veterans.
Colleges That Change Lives—Member Institution
Former New York Times education editor Loren Pope published the first edition of Colleges That Change Lives—40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College in 1996. Pope spotlighted institutions with: low student-to-faculty ratios that foster collaboration, with classes taught by professors, not TAs; a commitment to undergraduate liberal arts and sciences education with opportunities for undergraduate research; a living and learning environment that emphasizes the benefits of community, personal growth and participation; smaller student enrollments that allow students to be known as individuals; out-of-classroom learning opportunities that provide students with added perspective; participation in internships, study abroad and service to others; holistic admission policies; and alumni networks that help graduates with professional and career development opportunities and foster friendships. Evergreen was included in the 1996, 2000 and 2006 editions and continues its affiliation with CTCL.org today.
"The Evergreen State College offers the most unusual undergraduate experience in the Northwest, or in any public institution anywhere. Taxpayers everywhere should demand colleges like this one that changes their children’s lives. For a public institution it is more than unusual, it is unique, because values are as important as learning and public service is strongly encouraged.”
Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges
The Evergreen State College is one of just 29 members of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (in the U.S. and Canada. COPLAC is dedicated to the advancement of high-quality, public liberal arts education in a student-centered, residential environment and represents a distinguished sector in higher education. These institutions offer many of the benefits of private liberal arts colleges—smaller classes, personal attention, strong relationships with faculty, and close-knit campus communities—but are generally more affordable and accessible than their private counterparts. Evergreen is Washington’s only COPLAC member and is one of just three COPLAC institutions on the West Coast.
The Evergreen State College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
What students say
"Keeping education in its purest form alive and well in the heart of the Northwest," The Evergreen State College offers "a unique approach" to academics. The school provides an "interactive environment-with a diverse, enriching learning method," which allows students "to focus on [their] passions and explore them in detail."
Everyone creates their own educational paths and directs the pace of their own learning. As a few students say admiringly, "I feel a sense of freedom with the academics at Evergreen." "I have more power as a student."
Greatly appreciated is the flexibility found within the curriculum. "I was excited about building my own major."
"No self-motivated student will leave Evergreen unsatisfied."
Students work collaboratively here and support one another in their endeavors. "It's not about grades or competition; it's about self-improvement and personal fulfillment."
Evaluations are used to view student progress, with "interdisciplinary education over declared majors" being the focus. "Your classes are all interconnected, so it's easy to link what you're doing into a defined path." "My transcript says more about me than A's, B's, and C's possibly could."
"The philosophy...definitely lowers the stress I experience around academics." Professors assist students in innumerable ways and are "very intimately involved in the education of their students."
"At Evergreen, in order to have a great experience, you need to be able to talk to your professors and engage with them."
"I have not met a professor yet who was not willing to rework their mode of teaching to better serve the class."
The educational atmosphere is highly interactive. Almost every student "actively engages the material with field work, undergraduate research, and extended trips."
"Class time is spent doing workshops, seminars, or a led discussion where everyone participates."
"Even the science programs involve large portions of discussion and peer collaboration."
As one undergraduate describes slyly, "My professors have been A++, if Evergreen assigned grades."
What graduates say about us…
- Best value, best buy
- Remarkable educational opportunities
- Tops for free spirits and hipsters
- Engaged students involved in learning
- Among top public affairs graduate programs
- Green and socially responsible
- Among top public regional universities
- Among the best colleges for veterans
- A college of distinction; a college that changes lives